Legal Affairs

This collection is comprised of letters written to Isaac Wayne, Dickinson College Class of 1792 and Pennsylvania statesman, on various subjects ranging from biographical information on his father (General Anthony Wayne) to Wayne's service in...

This collection consists of nine scrapbooks relating to John Perry Wood (1879-1959), Dickinson College class of 1901 and Yale University School of Law class of 1902, and his family. Most of the scrapbooks deal with aspects of family life:...

Isaac Norris, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, writes to Governor John Penn regarding legislation and the taxation of property. "And as these Objections do not appear to use justly founded," Norris notes that "we have...

John Dickinson sells the tract of land, "Brothers Portion," near Dove, Kent County in Delaware to William Killen on August 12, 1766. Dickinson signs the deed with his personal seal and Caesar Rodney signs it as the Recorder.

Attorney John Dickinson writes this legal opinion regarding George Churchman's case, which is centered on a disagreement over land. "I have concluded ... that Churchman's title to the Land in Dispute, is good in Law," as Dickinson notes.

Attorney James Wilson prepares this legal document about auditing accounts for the case of Stevenson & Thompson v. Ross & Cole. Both sides agree that "matters of account between them" will be referred to John Potts, John Patton, and...

This legal notice, which is related to the case of Robert Urie v. Joseph Hudson, calls for the Sheriff of Cumberland County to collect the debt that Hudon owes Urie. Judge James Wilson signed this document and John Armstrong witnessed it...

James Wilson, United States Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence, wries to Francis Hopkinson, Judge of the Court of Admiralty of Pennsylvania, regarding the Brigantine Ariel. Transcript included.

John Dickinson asks Robert Magaw to have representatives of George Stevenson search for a particular survey that might be among his papers. If they find it, Dickinson requests that they "send it to the survey or general's office." Transcript...

John Armstrong writes to George Thompson stating that he is "going to the woods and will be absent for some months". Armstrong also explains his intention to bring a suit against Meyer McCully on account of a small debt. Transcript included....

Benjamin Rush writes to Thomas Fitzsimons about a recent funding law and business conditions in the United States. While "lands sell and settle rapidly," Rush argues that "our vitals are unsound and we must finally perish under the weight of Mr....

Thomas Smith, a Pennsylvania Judge, writes to Alexander James Dallas, the Secretary of the State of Pennsylvania, about the prosecution Colonel John Montgomery's son. "The prosecution is truly disagreable to me, as besides the long acquaintance...

After James Wilson sells land in Pennsylvania (tract no. 5055) to Dr. Benjamin Rush on April 19, 1794, Dr. Rush sells that property to a Richard Stockton of New Jersey on May 28, 1794. John C. Otto, one of the witnesses to the transaction in...

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney prepares this document for a lawsuit against John Deloshmutt. Taney's client, George Jacob Schley, argues that Deloshmutt has failed to pay 3 pounds, 11 shillings, and 10 pence half penny for various services,...

William A. Thompson writes to James Hamilton and informs him that he must proceed to Philadelphia "to take charge of [St. Leger D'Happart's] farm" and will be unable to visit as a result. Thompson also asks for legal advice on pursuing several...

John Thompson writes to attorney and Dickinson College trustee James Hamilton regarding a judgment for forty-eight pounds that Mr. Watts obtained against Thompson. "There is no such sum due them by me," as Thompson argues.